This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Health section (revised HIV/AIDS statistics).  The overall level of the advice has not changed.

(see travel advice legal disclaimer)

Travel advice for this country

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Travel Summary

• It is recommended that if you come to South Korea for longer than two weeks you should register with the Consular Section of the British Embassy.  You should also follow developments in the region closely.  See the General (Registering with the British Embassy) section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• It is not possible to enter North Korea from South Korea.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• The typhoon/tropical storm season in South Korea normally runs from June to November.  See the Natural Disasters section of this advice and Tropical Cyclones for more details.
  
  
• Many British nationals visit South Korea every year.  Most visits are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in South Korea in 2007 were replacing lost or stolen passports.
  
  
• We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
  

Safety and security

There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

For further information see Terrorism Abroad. 

Armistice Agreement.  Tensions can arise on the peninsula from time to time, for example following a nuclear test conducted by North Korea last year.  However, at the time of writing the situation is stable.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations are common in South Korea. In June and July 2008, there have been a series of large demonstrations against American beef imports and the policies of the Korean Government, some of which have turned violent. These have taken place in the City Hall/Seoul Plaza/Cheonggyecheon Stream area of central Seoul. These demonstrations appear to be largely over, although there are now other protests in the vicinity of the Japanese Embassy over a territorial dispute between Korea and Japan. You should follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local media for developments.

Local Travel

It is not possible for you to travel directly to North Korea from South Korea.

Taxi drivers tend to speak little or no English.  Have your destination written in Korean, with a map for private addresses, as it can be difficult to locate them otherwise.

Road Travel

An International Driving Permit is needed to drive in South Korea.  You should ensure that you also have fully comprehensive insurance.

South Korea has one of the highest rates of traffic death in the world. In 2005 there were 6,376 road deaths in South Korea (source: DfT).  This equates to 13.2 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 5.5 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2005.  Car and motorbike drivers are presumed to be at fault in accidents involving motorcycles or pedestrians.  Criminal charges and heavy penalties are common when accidents result in injury, even if guilt is not proved. You should watch out for motorcycles travelling at speed on pavements.

For further information see Driving Abroad.

Air Travel

The revised aviation security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in South Korea.  For more details about this please see:  DfT - Airline Security Update

The European Commission has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the European Union. This is regularly updated. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/list_en.htm. At the time of writing no South Korean airlines feature on this list.

Local laws and customs

English is not widely spoken in South Korea.

You are subject to local laws, which can be more severe than in the UK for similar offences.  A serious violation may lead to a jail or a death sentence.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs can result in long jail sentences and heavy fines.  This applies even to personal use of small amounts of marijuana.  British nationals have been detained solely on the basis of drug tests.

Any jail sentence would be served in South Korea.  Often, usually where less serious offences are concerned, convicted foreigners may instead be deported.  The same may apply to foreigners convicted of offences not involving a prison sentence.  If you are deported you may be banned from returning to South Korea for several years.

You should carry some form of identification at all times and ensure your next-of-kin details have been entered into the back of your passport.

There is no legal barrier to homosexual relationships, but some prejudice exists among the older generation.  Younger Koreans are more liberal and gay rights organisations are gaining support.  The gay scene, although relatively small, is well established and growing in visibility.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You. 

Entry requirements

Visas

Holders of British Citizen passports can enter South Korea for tourist purposes for up to 90 days without a visa. You must also have an onward or return ticket.

Visas are required for all other purposes.  It is illegal to work on a tourist visa in South Korea, whether as a teacher or in any other capacity.  If you wish to work you should contact the nearest South Korean Diplomatic Mission before you travel for information on obtaining the appropriate documentation.  In addition, you should research the educational establishment or company where you intend to work as thoroughly as possible.  Please see the General section of this travel advice if you are considering a teaching job in South Korea.

Holders of all other types of British passport should contact the nearest South Korean Diplomatic Mission before travelling for information about visa requirements - Embassy of the Republic of Korea, London.

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for at least six months after the date you intend to enter South Korea.

British males of Korean origin

If you are a British male of Korean origin, whose name appears on your Korean family register, you should be aware that you may be liable for military service, even if travelling on your British passport.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.  For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the nearest South Korean Diplomatic Mission - Embassy of the Republic of Korea, London.

Health

or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There have been outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in domestic poultry across South Korea since 1 April 2008. The initial outbreaks were concentrated in poultry farms and livestock markets in rural areas, but more recently outbreaks have also been found in urban areas. The Korean authorities have held extensive culling exercises and established poultry quarantine zones and movement controls around the outbreaks. The Korean authorities are on the alert for any further outbreaks. No human infections or deaths have been reported.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the possibility that the Avian Influenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human flu pandemic, if a virus mutates to a form which is easily transmissible between people.

For more information please visit:  Avian and Pandemic Influenza 

Natural disasters

Typhoons

Travellers to South Korea should be aware that typhoon season normally runs from June to November. We recommend paying particular attention to local weather and travel information and consult the Korean Meteorological Administration website, which has information in English.  

Please also see Tropical Cyclones for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a typhoon.

General

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before departure. You should ensure that your insurance covers the costs of medical repatriation if you need complex hospital treatment.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

  Mobile phones

Mobile telephones purchased outside South Korea will not normally work in the country. For those visiting South Korea phones can be rented at the airport on arrival.

Registering with the British Embassy

If you are staying for more than two weeks, we strongly encourage you to register with the Consular Section of the British Embassy.  You can also find contingency guidance information on the Consular Services Section of the British Embassy website (http://www.britishembassy.or.kr).

Register with our LOCATEservice to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
Money

The local currency is the South Korean Won.  It is almost impossible to change Scottish or Northern Irish bank notes.  Credit cards are not always accepted outside major cities.  ATMs, whilst widely available do not always accept foreign cards.  ATM’s with a sign saying “Global” will normally accept foreign cards.

Employment

If you are considering a teaching job in South Korea, you should note that it is not possible to obtain a visa to teach English in South Korea without a three-year university degree – a TEFL qualification alone is insufficient.  If you are found to have obtained a teaching visa by submitting fraudulent documents, even if unknowingly produced by a third party, you will be detained and deported.  You should also be aware that complaints are frequently received from British nationals teaching English in South Korea about problems arising from living or working conditions that do not meet expectations and complications, and over obtaining the correct visas and residence permits.  There have also been complaints of breach of contract, confiscation of passports, and of payment being withheld also of inadequate or no medical insurance.  Check that all terms and conditions of employment are clearly stated before accepting an offer and signing a contract.  Where possible ask to speak to other teachers from the educational establishment when you plan to work before accepting any offer.  You should note that written contracts are not necessarily considered binding documents and verbal agreements often take precedence.  It is illegal to work in South Korea on a tourist visa.  For those in possession of a work visa all employment changes must be authorised by Korean Immigration.

Travel advice for this country

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